The crowd gathered closer to see how the intense family drama would unfold.
Vanessa folded her arms tightly across her chest with an arrogant look.
Vanessa: Give up, Julian. You have no legal ground to stand on anymore.
Julian: You always were too eager for your own good, Vanessa.
Vanessa: I secured my future while you were busy playing the good son.
Julian: Did you really think my father came here today without protection?
Julian held up the official blue-sealed document from the old leather folder.
He opened the pages wide so the nearby board members could read them.
Julian: This is a irrevocable living trust created twenty years ago.
Vanessa: That old paper means nothing against a recent signed transfer!
Julian: It means everything because my father transferred all assets to a trust then.
The corporate lawyer of the Miller family stepped out from the quiet crowd.
Mr. Harrison adjusted his glasses and took the blue-sealed document from Julian.
He examined the official stamps with a serious look on his face.
Mr. Harrison: Julian is correct. The company assets were locked twenty years ago.
Vanessa: That is impossible! He signed the transfer paper in my office!
Mr. Harrison: Mr. Arthur Miller had no legal right to sign away individual assets alone.
Julian: Because the trust requires my joint signature for any real property transfer.
Vanessa's confident expression began to crumble rapidly before the entire room.
Her cheeks turned pale as the realization of her huge mistake hit her.
She looked around at the judging faces of the city's highest leaders.
They were looking at her with absolute disgust after seeing her hit an old man.
Arthur leaned back against the pillar and took a deep, clear breath.
Arthur: I knew what you were trying to do three weeks ago, Vanessa.
Vanessa: You old fool... you set a trap for me!
Arthur: You trapped yourself with your own endless greed, my dear.
Julian stepped forward and took the fake contract from Mr. Harrison's hands.
He tore the black envelope in half with a loud and satisfying rip.
The pieces fell slowly onto the light marble floor near Vanessa's gold shoes.
Julian: Our engagement is over, and so is your career in this city.
Vanessa: You cannot do this to me! I built connections for this firm!
Julian: You built a house of lies on top of my family's hard work.
Two uniformed security guards walked quickly into the main hall from the front doors.
Mr. Harrison raised his hand to summon them directly to the stage area.
Vanessa backed away slowly as the guards approached her with serious expressions.